Assemblyman Scott Gray (R-Watertown) released the latest episode of “The Gray Area” video series. This week, Gray shared his thoughts on Gov. Hochul’s State of the State address, which he described as more akin to a State of the City speech due to its heavy focus on urban concerns while largely neglecting the needs of upstate communities and the North Country.

Gray expressed caution about the affordability of Gov. Hochul’s ambitious initiatives. While he applauded her focus on middle-class tax cuts, he noted many of her proposals, such as expanding the Child Tax Credit and providing universal school meals, while good initiatives, come with significant costs that need to be addressed.

“Affordability isn’t a switch you can flip,” said Gray. “It requires a series of thoughtful legislative and policy changes in both the short and long term. We need to contain the budget to ensure we’re not just shifting the burden elsewhere.”

On Gov. Hochul’s “inflation refund” plan, Gray noted, “Refunding unanticipated revenue isn’t the same as making life more affordable. It is taking your money, deciding if the state needs it, and then giving it back. That doesn’t address the structural issues of affordability.”

Gray raised important questions about the feasibility and costs of all of the governor’s initiatives, asking, “What are the parameters, and who is paying the bill? No specifics were discussed during this address, which doesn’t do much for our confidence in the application of these initiatives.” Gray supports efforts to expand housing but emphasizes the need for a balanced approach that includes the rehabilitation of existing structures. Our cities and villages depend upon rehabilitation programs to sustain housing stock.

“Building more homes is critical, especially in the North Country, but it cannot come at the expense of rehabilitating what we already have,” Gray explained. “I’m disappointed that the governor’s speech lacked a clear plan for housing rehabilitation, which is essential to revitalizing our cities.”

Gray also acknowledged the importance of expanding involuntary commitment to mental health treatment but cautioned that the state lacks the necessary infrastructure, such as hospital beds. “Hospitals cannot replace jails, and we need to carefully address the intersection of mental health and the criminal justice system. Without adequate resources, these initiatives risk falling short,” he said.

Gray criticized the absence of a detailed agenda for education, despite a year of studies and roundtables conducted by the Rockefeller Institute of Government on Foundation Aid. He also raised concerns about the sustainability of free community college for individuals aged 25-55 given the state’s existing funding shortfalls for community colleges.

On energy and the environment, Gray was encouraged by the governor’s proposed $1 billion investment in energy, saying: “These are big promises where details matter. New York can’t afford initiatives that sound good on paper but lack clear implementation plans.”

“Look out for next week’s episode of The Gray Area as we continue to update you on what you care about. We always appreciate the opportunity to serve you and to work with you. Don’t hesitate to call my office staff with questions, comments or concerns—see you soon,” Gray concluded.